A/N: Sorry for the long time between updates. This story is going to be much shorter than its prequel, but I have my reasons, and I have been really busy lately. Don't think just because this one is shorter means I won't continue to write. I have about a million other ideas in my head. I hope you guys like this one. Review and let me know what you think.

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What the Future Holds
Chapter Twelve

"Your real father?" the man smirked. "Well, if I am here, then obviously something has happened. Now hasn't it? Can you guess what that is?"

Yuka shook her head. "So it wasn't him...he doesn't want to hurt my family. This was all your doing..."

"Wrong again, I'm afraid." The demon posing as her father seemed to taunt her with the glint in his eyes. He smiled. "You see, it was your father who originally wanted all of this taken care of...but his methods were so...loud...I was afraid he was going about it the wrong way. I had to get what I want, and he wasn't doing things properly. I consulted him about it, but he would not listen to reason. That is why I had to dispose of him."

Yuka blinked. "Dispose of...?"

Sesshoumaru stepped in front of her protectively. "When did this happen?" he demanded, his eyes glowing with the extent of his anger. He had his hand on the hilt of his sword, which seemed to be pulsing with demon energy, even while at rest.

"It has been quite a while, Lord Sesshoumaru," the demon nodded.

Sesshoumaru blinked in confusion.

"Did you think I was not aware of who I was talking to?" the demon laughed. "I am not dumb, Lord Sesshoumaru. After all, don't you remember, I had my own motives in joining your mate's father in his quest...but I had a different objective. This is where her father and I could not agree."

"What are you talking about?" asked Sango, frowning deeply.

"I did not want to kill the girl, Lord Sesshoumaru. Those were not my intentions. I did, however, wish to kill your mate."

The growl that erupted from Sesshoumaru's throat at mention of harm coming to Yuka was unlike anything she or her daughter had ever heard. He placed a protective hand on her and puched her back slightly. "Why you insolent---" he snarled.

"Yes...you have understood me perfectly." the demon nodded, taking a threatening step forward. "Killing that mate of yours would certainly mean your death...but the stubborn old man did not wish to see his own daughter killed. He just wanted Rin out of the way. I, however, desired the opposite."

"You..." Yuka stammered, her jaw dropping to the floor in shock.

"Yes...I want your daughter. I could mate her, and then with the two of you gone, there would be no one standing in the way of me getting exactly what I want."

"I don't think so..." Sango smirked.

"The school?" Sesshoumaru said out loud. "You want the school?" He paused a moment. "Or is it more than that?"

The demon nodded. "Of course it is! It is always more!"

"You are starting to annoy me." Yuka groaned. "You are talking about all of us as if we are not standing here...yet you are outnumbered, and obviously not nearly as smart as us. I would suggest that you quiet yourself...right after you tell me what you have done to my real father."

"He is gone. There is nothing left, and you will find nothing." he said quickly. "Are you happy knowing this?"

Yuka took a deep breath, and finally nodded. "Yes, I'm happy knowing, but I'd be even happier once you were dead..."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "That can be taken care of." he smirked, pulling his sword out of its sheath. "Demon, you are going to pay for what you have done to Yuka's family, and for what you were even thinking of doing to mine..."

He nodded. "Yes...I will pay." he smiled. "If you can catch me, that is..."

In a split second, the demon disappeared, reappeared in front of Rin, grabbed her, and disappeared again. Yuka screamed. What happened was so quick that it barely had any time to register in their minds. Sesshoumaru pivoted around on his heel, and ran towards the front of the house. No one was there except Yuka's mother, who was staring at the group in her husband's study with confusion etched in her eyes.

"What happened?" she asked, cocking her head to one side.

"What the hell? Where did he go?" he screamed. "Rin!"

"Sesshoumaru!" Miroku yelled. "They're gone...calm yourself before something else happens..."

"But that son-of-a-bitch just took my daughter! I was standing right there."

"Yes...I know. And we will find her. You have forgotten that you know her scent, and you know his. Even in this city, you should be able to find them. The well is sealed, so there is no way that he could jump between time periods as Kagome used to do..and he will not be able to run that far with you on his trail."

Sesshoumaru took a deep breath. "Yuka..."

Yuka nodded. "Yes?"

"Call Kagome and Inuyasha. We will stop by the house, and then I will be leaving as soon as possible. You are to stay at the house where you will be safe...and I will return with our daughter..."

Yuka nodded again, this time with understanding in her eyes. "All right, Sesshoumaru." she smiled, wrapping him in a hug. She glanced up at him, and tears stung her eyes. He kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Please be safe, okay?"

He shook his head. "This will not be a problem, Yuka. That demon was not strong...just very bold."

"I'm not so sure, Sesshoumaru..." Sango frowned. "I got another impression. Please be careful. Do not let yourself get injured. That would not solve any problems."

Sesshoumaru nodded slowly. "I will be fine." He paused. "And I will bring her home safely."

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"Let go of me! Where are we? My father is going to kill you!" Rin yelled. "You need to let me go now, before something bad happens to you!"

"Was that a threat?" he smirked.

"Yes, it was." she replied.

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"Inuyasha...I don't like any of this." Kagome frowned. "I don't like that Hikari was hurt, and it really makes me uneasy that they aren't back from Yuka's yet. You don't think...you don't think that anything bad has happened to them, do you? Maybe we should have gone with them to help?"

"They don't need our help. Sesshoumaru is there...remember?" Inuyasha reminded her.

Kagome nodded. "I know...but something doesn't feel right."

"You think my parents are okay?" asked Hikari.

Shippo smiled. "I'm sure they are just fine." He paused. "But are you okay?"

She laughed. "What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, right?"

Meanwhile, Kagome seemed to be staring off into space. Her expression was blank, and her mouth was parted slightly, as if she was about to say something, but could not think of the words to say. Inuyasha blinked several times, waving his hands in front of Kagome and trying to catch her attention, although none of this was seeming to work.

"Kagome!" he yelled at her. Finally, without another option, he grabbed her by the shoulders, and began to shake her. Still, she did not respond.

"Rin!...Put her down you stupid bastard!" Sesshoumaru screamed. "Release my daughter right now. I'm going to kill you so quickly that you will not even realize what has happened...but if you have harmed even one hair on her head, I will make you pay! You will wish you were dead!"

The demon seemed to be staring at Kagome, although he did not see her. She could see everything like a television show playing out in front of her. She saw Sesshoumaru, his sword drawn, and the demon that he appeared to be talking to. The demon was holding Rin around her waist, and the young hanyou's face was streaked with tears. The demon holding her captive held one clawed hand to her throat. He began to address Sesshoumaru.

"There is nothing you can do now. The girl is mine, Sesshoumaru. And soon, you will be out of the picture. That mate of yours is probably taking her last breath right now. Can you feel it? You are growing weaker and weaker by the second. Soon, you will fade away, just as she will..."

"Yuka..." Sesshoumaru whispered, clutching at his sword with one hand, and his heart with the other. He suddenly felt as if he had been punched hard in the stomach, and there was a pain in his chest that he found almost unbearable.

The demon laughed. "That's it, Sesshoumaru. Fall to your knees and accept defeat!"

"I will not..." he groaned, although there was now sweat beading his forehead, and he was gripping his sword as if it was the only thing holding him in a standing position. Suddenly, his breathing became short and labored, and he wavered where he stood. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on his sword, pulled it out from under him, and charged at the demon in front of him.

"Daddy, no!" Rin screamed at him.

Sesshoumaru ran the demon in front of him through with his sword, but nothing happened. Finally, he succumbed to his pain, dropping to his knee, and abandoning his sword all together. Rin began to scream even louder than before.

"No!" screamed Kagome, jumping forward to help. However, she did not reach Sesshoumaru. She landed straight in Inuyasha's arms.

She blinked. "Inuyasha?" she whispered. "What happened?"

"You went completely blank there for a second." Inuyasha frowned with worry. "What happened to you? Are you all right, Kagome? You look like you're sick..."

"I saw something..." Kagome admitted. "We have to warn Yuka and Sesshoumaru..."

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha demanded. "What exactly did you see?"

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A/N: How'd you like it? Cliffy again, I know...but I can't help myself sometimes. :D Please review:D